spaces

[suklee]

I really want to learn how to use spaces efficiently. how do you have yours set up? I have a 13" MBP.

 

[Kmax82]

I'm curious about this as well. I've yet to get spaces to be something efficient that I can use in my everyday workflow. It sounds good in theory, but I always forget where I put an application, or this or that, that just makes it a hassle.

I would ultimately like to be able to enable spaces for my primary display, but have my secondary display be static. This way I could throw Adium, iTunes and some other apps that I like to have constant access to there, but then split up my other apps into spaces on my primary display.

 

[nickbits]

i have 2 spaces, once for mac, and one that runs vmware fusion/vista

 

[Ka0t1x]

Kmax, all you would need to do that is specify those apps for all spaces, and they would flow on that monitor to all of the spaces (While keeping the exact location). Add your app to the list, and then for the space, make it 'Every Space'. I'm not aware of a feature that would allow you to enable spaces for just a single monitor, but the previous should take care of it. For multiple monitor setups, there's x amount of monitors on ALL spaces. I prefer vertical spaces for ease of use. When I used spaces I always had Terminal follow every space.

At the same time, you can specify an application to live in a single space, that way when you switch to that app, via cmd+tab or dock, or any other way, it will flip to that space. With a fairly decent machine it would be near instant (G5 Dual 1.8Ghz was pretty smooth).


Its all about how you use your applications. Its pretty nice when you're working with full screen applications and want to keep them on a separate workspace.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

I don't use spaces. With the multitouch trackpad I think I switch quick enough between applications without having to use spaces.

 

[Nothinman]

I've got 8 desktops on all of my Linux desktops and I couldn't work without it. It takes a little getting used to, but I'm at the point now where I've always got the same things on certain desktops and I just instinctively hit Alt+FX where X is a desktop number to get to what I need.

You just need to use them consistently and eventually it'll click.

 

[silverpig]

I've got 8 desktops on all of my Linux desktops and I couldn't work without it. It takes a little getting used to, but I'm at the point now where I've always got the same things on certain desktops and I just instinctively hit Alt+FX where X is a desktop number to get to what I need.

You just need to use them consistently and eventually it'll click.

This. I have my web browser on 1, my twitter/torrents/IM on 2, IRC/FTP on 3, and whatever I happen to be working on (iWork/office etc) on 4. That's just how I have it and I know where to go.

The nice thing is active programs are shown in the dock, so if I'm on the web in chrome and want to get to Word quickly, I just click the Word icon and I get automatically moved over to space 4 where Word is running.

 

[suklee]

I've got a 24" lcd hooked up usually and it's rotated vertically, so that basically gives me 2 "extra" monitors at 1200x960 each, in addition to my main mbp's display of 1280x800. I'm thinking Spaces won't be as useful when my LCD is hooked up, and might try using it when I have only the single screen.

idk, I've always wanted to get into spaces but never really figured it out. maybe repetitive use is the key...

 

[Nothinman]

maybe repetitive use is the key...

Very much so. It's a completely different method of managing running applications, of course it'll take some time to adjust.

 

[Ka0t1x]

Usually when trying to get into a new workflow I will basically cut the cord and force myself into the habit, otherwise I will never pick it up.

 

[PricklyPete]

I use it to separate work. I have my SAP screens in one Space, documentation in another space (along with web browser), email, OmniFocus, Skype in another, iTunes in another.

If I'm working on my PHP stuff on the weekends or after hours, I have TextMate in one space, Sequel Pro in another, documentation in another, and itunes in the 4th.

Switching between them is simple as I have the top right gesture pulling up all 4 spaces...or I just use the hotkeys. Moving stuff between the spaces is a simple using either of these methods as well (spaces view or just hotkeys).

 

[Kmax82]

Kmax, all you would need to do that is specify those apps for all spaces, and they would flow on that monitor to all of the spaces (While keeping the exact location). Add your app to the list, and then for the space, make it 'Every Space'. I'm not aware of a feature that would allow you to enable spaces for just a single monitor, but the previous should take care of it. For multiple monitor setups, there's x amount of monitors on ALL spaces. I prefer vertical spaces for ease of use. When I used spaces I always had Terminal follow every space.

At the same time, you can specify an application to live in a single space, that way when you switch to that app, via cmd+tab or dock, or any other way, it will flip to that space. With a fairly decent machine it would be near instant (G5 Dual 1.8Ghz was pretty smooth).


Its all about how you use your applications. Its pretty nice when you're working with full screen applications and want to keep them on a separate workspace.

Yea, I've tried that in the past. My problem is that sometimes I want different apps to be "always on" so to speak. Like I might want to move a website over to my second monitor for ref and then switch between Photoshop, Coda and Mail in my spaces. But I don't always want that web browser to be in all spaces.. just when I drag it into my second monitor.

I know I'm probably asking for too much, but that's a big reason why I don't use spaces. My brain just doesn't seem to function like that. I find it easier to just hide apps that I'm not using, or just Expose between them.

 

[suklee]

Usually when trying to get into a new workflow I will basically cut the cord and force myself into the habit, otherwise I will never pick it up.

Great idea, I've been forcing myself to use spaces today. I also like Pete's suggestion of using one of the corners for spaces, instead of fn+F8.

I have 6 spaces set up thus far.

Which shortcut keys do you guys have set up to switch between spaces (arrow keys) and directly to a space (number keys)... Cmd, option, or ctrl?

 

[Ka0t1x]

I usually just use the control+arrows to switch, or the obvious cmd+tab to app.

 

[speg]

Sadly I often only have a web browser open and don't need spaces

 

[PricklyPete]

I usually just use the control+arrows to switch, or the obvious cmd+tab to app.

I use cmd+arrows to switch between spaced...and cmd+tab to move between apps (although I use expose much, much more..especially the app specific variant...I have the top left gesture for all apps and the bottom left gesture for just one app...helps a ton when working with 10 different SAP clients in the same space)

 

[rdp6]

crtl+arrow for spaces.

When I used my mbp for school I used spaces much more than I do now as a general-use home computer.

No Macs at work